Master Art

This silver teapot (kar nam ton) or water-pot (kanam), with a rounded, globular shape and elongated ‘S’ shaped spout, is ornately decorated with rows of floral and foliate patterns. The lid of the pot is particularly distinctive; it features cascading, circular flat domes, reminiscent of Thai architecture such as pagodas with multiple tiers. The base of the spout bears the head of a dragon. The pot has a long, swinging handlebar that forms a rectangular shape with indented or pinched corners. The dense flora on this pot may indicate the work of a Chinese artist. In particular, its relatively small, compressed globular shape, along with the ornate decorative motifs invoke the diminutive teapots made by Chinese artists in the Straits during the 19th century (present day Malaysia and Singapore) (Meng, p. 149, fig. 120). For a similar example see Bromberg p.119, no. 3.71.

Stock no.: A4966